We love a good family gathering here at our house..love it. I’m in my element taking care of the family who come from far and wide. The last one saw 26 of us humans as my B3 calls all under one roof. With one toilet and shower some may call that stupid but that many people in the house is crazy fun. This time around we only have a few coming and in total there will be 17 of us staying but that doesn’t include the guest for Christmas brunch.
17 extra people to take care of – I love it.
Most people panic about food me I worry about if my guest will sleep alright on the floor and whether there will be enough loo paper and originally we had all five of us crammed into our bed (along with the four dogs) but I have learnt that is crazy and now have it down to a pretty fine art to making sure we all have a nice stay so here is my how to on hosting some few extra humans and their dogs.
1. We are talking accommodating 12+ extra bodies not just a couple here and there so avoid putting people in the lounge room..keep one space clutter and bed clothes free if you can..it keeps things a little stress free having one area clean.
2. Mattresses on the floor is perfectly okay..the kids love it any way…its like indoor camping…or have the kids if they are old enough sleep in the safety of the back yard..not front yard the back yard. Don’t attempt to sleep more humans in one bed than is comfortably possible unless you don’t want those guest and their dogs to come back then by all means do so.
3. Toilet paper is your friend..you can never have to much..currently we have a back load supply of 92 rolls of double ply and that’s not getting ready for a family arriving; its my husbands fetish along with soap we have bars and bars of soap. Keep a half dozen rolls in a basket in the toilet also have a small rubbish bin in the toilet and don’t forget the ‘air’ freshener.
4. Ask your guest to bring milk and their favourite cereal; its the one meal you don’t have to think about. They also need to provide for their dogs or at least put their hand in their pocket if they don’t ask nicely.
5. Have plenty of fruit on hand its cheaper and healthier of kids want a snack and they can get it themselves.
6. Everyone wash wipes puts away their own dishes- even if you have a dish washer. If your guest are with you a number of days allocate jobs as they need doing. Just minimal house work they aren’t their to help spring clean your home. A little bit of dirt is okay..to much dirt is chaos. Don’t ask tell in the nicest possible way ie Lucy take out the rubbish out please. Putting out the rubbish, doing their own laundry and vacuuming makes their stay more enjoyable for them and you in the end you. If they wont help with the minimal housework then ask them to stay else where. If they have dogs give them a hint by handing them a plastic bag and a spade.
7. Cook a couple of meals ahead of their arrival if you can wet dishes that can be frozen and reheated simply are the best..think bolognese, chilli mince or a stew. Don’t forget about the slow cooker amazing for occasions like this.
8. Getting along. Pick and chose your battles however if you have ‘rules’ for your home that you can’t bend or forget tell your guest before they arrive and make sure they understand. Then they have the option to get a hotel. This year I had to stress the one rule we have at Christmas..there is no sleeping in Christmas morning..there is no waiting for the parents to wake up..we will leave you behind other wise.
9. Don’t be afraid to be a shower and laundry natzi and I mean getting them into the shower or washing their clothes. There is no excuse not to shower or launder. Smells and dirty travels through your bedding, soft furnishings and unless you have a pool something has to give. My mother (and may be me) believes a swim in the pool suffices as a shower..ahem which is why my kids never shower at her place..they swim 10 out 12 hours a day they have to be clean right? At the end of a long day who is going to argue with that. A water fight under the garden hose also suffices just give them a bar of soap (I wont lie I aint fighting with no one) Give one bar of soap per family and a towel for each person- they are responsible for getting that towel dry or they have a wet one for the entire stay.
10. Put away any special toys,ornaments and books. It saves arguments. Simple. If you don’t want to loose a friendship or have a family feud because your three year old niece broke your $700 antique vase by accident then put it away. I know many will say its my house they should be extra careful and I am with you its true to a point but accidents happen simple as that.
Last one but a no brainer..have a good time..enjoy your friends and family…it is what this whole thing called life is all about if you are wanting some tips on staying friends have a look at this post.
xx D
